Hajiji performing the launch gimmick for the National Language Month at state level at Dewan Amil Jaya, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Sabah Branch, today.
KOTA KINABALU: The State Government will continue to give serious attention to efforts to strengthen the national language in facing the challenges of the digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI) era, including expanding its use in public places and reinforcing compliance in official affairs.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said the efforts would also include promoting pantun and Jawi script, conducting research on various languages and ethnic literature, and developing the book industry by showcasing writers from Sabah.
“I also want to see Sabah’s young people, digital influencers and local creative industry players harness technology to promote the use of the national language,” he said when officiating the launch of the 2026 National Language Month (BBK) at state level at Dewan Amil Jaya, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) Sabah Branch here today.
Hajiji said the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Development Plan did not focus solely on economic growth, infrastructure and strategic sectors, but also emphasised human capital development and the well-being of the people, nurturing an independent spirit, a strong identity and a firm sense of self.
He said the State Government would continue to strengthen cooperation with DBP and the Education Ministry in efforts to uphold the national language and literature through various activities, research and publications.
He also commended DBP’s efforts to expand book publishing across various fields of knowledge, including works reflecting local perspectives, while nurturing young writers and conducting research and documenting local languages and ethnic cultures for future generations.
Hajiji said the State Government hoped to strengthen cooperation with DBP, relevant agencies and writers’ associations to make Sabah a model state in fostering a culture of knowledge, developing literature and promoting excellence in the use of the national language.
He said efforts to establish Kota Kinabalu as a City of Literature should be intensified by organising more language and literary activities.
He also welcomed the organisation of the Karnival Bahasa Kita, Tanggungjawab Kita (Our Language, Our Responsibility Carnival), which includes forums on strengthening language use in the media, discussions on Jawi script and the promotion of pantun recitation.
Commenting on the theme of BBK 2026, Bahasa Kita, Wajah Kita (Our Language, Our Identity), Hajiji said it was in line with the spirit of Bahasa Jiwa Bangsa (Language is the Soul of the Nation), reminding the public that language is not merely a tool for everyday communication but also a reflection of a nation’s identity, character, thinking and personality.
He said the beautiful, proficient, courteous and polite use of the national language also reflected the maturity and dignity of a civilised nation, in line with the aspirations of Malaysia MADANI, which is founded on the values of community, sustainability, well-being, creativity, mutual respect and confidence.
He said racial unity could be strengthened through the considerate use of the national language while respecting the diversity of races and ethnic groups. Writing, literature and creative media could also serve as platforms to foster creativity and develop a first-class-minded society.
In the context of Sabah, Hajiji said the state’s unique diversity of ethnic groups, cultures and dialects was harmoniously brought together through the national language. The Malay language served as a unifying force, enabling Sabahans of different ethnic backgrounds to communicate, understand one another and work together in an atmosphere of goodwill.
However, he stressed that efforts to uphold the national language did not mean closing off opportunities for or marginalising Sabah’s rich diversity of mother tongues and ethnic languages.
Hajiji said young people should master multiple languages to enhance their competitiveness without neglecting efforts to uphold the national language, particularly when communicating on social media platforms.
“To the younger generation, amid the widespread use of and communication across various social media platforms, a strong commitment to prioritising the correct and courteous use of the national language must be cultivated. In the freedom to express ourselves across various mediums, the limits are courtesy in language and the use of proper language,” he said.
Hajiji called on all Sabahans to strengthen their resolve to make the national language a language of unity, a language of knowledge and a source of pride for all Malaysians.
